Control for a hydraulically actuated choke in a drilling mud flow line



7 5 m 4 8 v @Ross Rfmf SEARGH Roc Jan. 9, 1968 L. M. LINDSEY 3,362,487

CONTROL FOR A HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED CHOKE IN A DRILLING MUD FLOW LINE Filed May 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Jan. 9, 1968 1 M. I INDSEY 3,362,487

CONTROL FOR A HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED CHOKE IN A DRILLING MUD FLOW LINE Filed May 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a ,A7/W1" INVENTOR Larry M Lindsey BY WMM Zw ATTORNEY Jan. 9, 1968 M. I INDsx-:Y 3,362,487

OONTROIJ FOR A HYDRAULIOALLY AOTUATED OHOKE 1N A DRILLING MUD FLOW LINE Filed May 3, 1966 3 Sheets-Shea?I 5 To Mud H72.

Conro//er INVENTOR E JL 74 any [hals ey BY www ATTORNEY llbinitdl @t dice CONTROL FUR A HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED g @HOKE IN A DRILL'ING MUD FLOW LINE ylarry M. Lindsey, Fort Worth, Tex., assigner, by mesne assignments, to waco. Inc., Fort Worth, Tex., a corporation of 'il'exas ll'siletl May 3, i966, Ser. No. 547,207 14 Claims. (CL 175-38) F THE DISCLOSURE A control for a choke having a hydraulic actuator for varying the choke orice in a drilling mud flow line from a well, said control comprising a hydraulic system for actuating said, hydraulic actuator and a pneumatic system for operating said hydraulic system, the hydraulic system including a fluid reservoir, a pump for delivering fluid Yunder pressure from the reservoir to the hyd-raulic actuator, a by-pass for returning fluid from the pump to the reservoir, and a normally closed uid pressure responsive `relief valve provided in the by-pass, the pneumatic system including a compressed air supply, a compressed air motor connected to the air supply and drivingly connected to Athe pump, and a manually adjustable regulator between the air supply and the air motor whereby to control hydraulic uid pressure delivered by the pump. The apparatus also includes automaticgcmtfrols'responsive slfe ly to drillingmudpressre in the well casirigti in a standpipe to cause the hydraulic actuator to increase the choke orice in response to a well pressure in excess of a preselected pressure and to decrease the choke orifice in response to a well pressure below the prs'lected/piessure.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in the art of controlling the ow of drilling mud from wells, and in particular the invention concerns itself with controlling the operation of a hydraulically actuated, variable choke interposed in the flow line of mud from a well casing to mud pits.

As such, the control apparatus of the invention is especially suitable for use with a hydraulically actuated, variable choke of the general type disclosed in a pending patent application Ser. No. 524,061, led Feb. 1, 1966, by Phil H. Grithn III, although it is to be understood that the control apparatus of the present invention has general utility which does not restrict its use to a hydraulic choke of a particular type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a choke control which is entirely automatic in operation by being responsive to variations in the pressure of mud in a well, the control causing the choke to throttle the flow of mud to the pits when the mud pressure in the well falls and, conversely, increasing the mud ow when the pressure rises, so that as a result the mud pressure in the well may be maintained substantially constant. The control apparatus of the invention is capable of sensing and responding to pressure of mud either in the casing or in the standpipe of the well, and includes controller means adjustable to a predetermined mud pressure at either the casing or the standpipe to control the operation of the choke. In conditions where the well bore has been inm vaded by foreign iiuids such as water or gas, the automatic control of the invention may be adjusted to compensate for differences between pressure in the well formation and pressure of mud in the well, so as to permit the foreign iiuids to be pumped. out without the danger of a blowout.

Another feature of the invention resides in its use of two inter-dependent systems for controlling the choke,

namely, a hydraulic system which actuates the choke :in self, and a pneumatic system which operates the hydrauc licl system, the arrangement being such that delays be-y tween sensing of changes in mud pressure and adjustment of the choke are substantially minimized.

.Another feature of the invention involves the provi.U sion of means for manual control of actuation of the choke when so desired, independently of the `autoirratic control outline above.

With the foregoing .more important object and :features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the inverta tion will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with. the accompanying drawings. wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

FIG. l is a diagrammatic View showing the control apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view in a. more detailed form, of the components appearing at; left of the plane indicated by the arrows 2 2 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view in a more detailed form of the components appearing to the right of the plane indicated by the line 3 3 in FIG. l.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in, de=l tail, the numeral 10 designates a well standpipe connected by a hose lll to a drill stem 12 in a well casing '13, the mud flow from the standpipe passing downwardly through the stem 12 to the bottom of the hole and then upwardsly in the casing 13, as indicated by arrows. From the casing 13 the mud flows through a line 14 to the pits, and a variable choke l5 is provided, in the line Lift to throttle the flow of mud.

The choke 15 may be of any suitable type, but for illustrative purposes the drawings in a. more-or-less da'-l grammatical form show ay hydraulically actuated variq able choke of the general type disclosed in the aforementioned application Ser. No. 524,061 led Feb. I, 1966 by Phil H. Grifn III. As such, the choke 15 includes a housing 16 provided at one end thereof with a mud inlet 17 in communication with the mud line 14. The inlet l? extends through a iixed abutment member I8 of a resili= ent valve member 19, the other end of the valve member 19 being provided with a piston-like member 20 which is slidable in the housing 16. The resilient valve member i9' is provided with a choke passage 2l` communicating with. the mud inlet 17 and also with a mud. outlet tube 22, the latter' being connected to the member 20 and passing slid`A` ably through a partition 23 in the housing for discharging mud into a housing extension 16 from which the mud then flows to the pits. A. chamber 24 exists between the member 20 and the partition 23 and a line 25 is provided, for delivering hydraulic fluid under pressure. into the chamber 24, where such .fluid causes sliding of the mem@ ber 20 toward the inlet end of the housing 16 and result ant axial compression of the resilient valve .member 19. It will be apparent that as the member 19 is compressed, the lmud passage 21 will become more restricted and throttling of the mud flow will result. Conversely, when. uid pressure in the chamber 24 is relieved through the line 2S, the valve member 19 will expand and. faster mud. ow will be permitted. The inlet end portion of the housing 16 is provided with an annular chamber 26 which communicates with the inlet 17 through openings 27, so that mud passing through thel inlet may also lill the chamber 26. A line 28 communicates with the chamber 26 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The present invention concerns itself with apparatus for controlling a hydraulically actuated variable choke of the general type above outlined. As such, the apparau tus of the invention provides a manual control as well as spear-sr 3 an. automatic control which responsive to lvariations in mud pressure in the wel]c The manual control will rst be described1 -The control apparatus comprises a hydraulic system which actuates the choke 15, and a pneumatic system which. operates the hydraulic system. The hydraulic systemv includes a hydraulic fluid reservoirl or sump 30, from which the aforementioned line 25 extends to the chamber of the choke, a hydraulic pump 3l being provided in the line for delivering fluid under pressure from the sump 3@ into lthe chamber 24 when .ilovv of mud through the choke is to be restricted, lf desired, a hand pump 32 .may be connected to the line 25 in parallel with the pump 3l, so in a manual control the hand pump may be used in. substitution for the pump 3l. which is motor driven, as hereinafter explained..

A. by-pass line 33 .is provided between the line 25 downstream from the pumps 3l, 32 for returning .tluid from the pumps to the sump 3i) instead of passing such fluid to the choke l A, pressure relief valve 34- of a direct spring operated type is provided in the by pass line 33, and the line 25 does not. transmit Huid pressure to the choke l5 unless the relief valve 34 is closeda The pneumatic system. of the apparatus includes a supply of compressed. air 34a, such as may be taken from lthe drilling rig ou the order of approximately 100 p.s.i., through an air line 35. After passing through a suitable air filter. 36 and an air lubricator 37, the air flows through a maximum. pressure regulator 38, Where its pressure may be reduced to a maximum of approximately 8() p.s.i. The air then. ows through a manually adjustable pressure regulator 39 and through a one-way check valve 40 to a line all leading to an air motor 42 which drives the alorementioned hydraulic pump 3l at a faster or slower rate` dependingupon the setting of the manually adjustable regulator 39 From the motor ll2 the air is exhausted tothe atmosphere, as indicated at 43,

When it .is desired to manually control actuation of the choke l5, the regulator 3.9 is set so as to drive the hydrau lic pump 3l. by the air motor d2 at a speed which produces sufficient .fluid pressure inv the line 25 to throttle the choke while the relief 'valve 34 in the by-pass 33 remains closed, the pressure in the lluid line 25 being detectable on a suitable gauge 4114i connected to the line 25 as shown, and .in the event that 'the .duid pressure in the line 25 exceeds the setting ot the regulator 39., the uid will open the relier.' valve 'Eid and ilove back through the by-pass 33 to the sump all When. the choke l5 is to be opened, the reeilator is adjusted so that operation of the motor 3i discontinued, thus permitting hydrauw lu fluid pressure at, .the choke to be relieved.

addition.. 'to the manual control. already described, i at the invention. also provides for controln y .ctuatiou ot the choke automatically in response to variations .in mud pressure, either .in the standpipe lll) or .in 'the well. casing 713, llhese pressures are sensed selec-l rivelv through line 4S connected to the standpipe 4l0 and through 'the aforementioned line 28 connected to the choke chamber 26,. it being understood that the pressure at mud in the chamber .26 corresponds substantially to 'the mud. pressure in the well. casing .13, The lines 28 and oin together as at 46 and proceed therefrom as a 4'?" to mud. pressure sensing controller 48 The lines and 4S' are provided in advance of their junction 46 'rr/ith hand operated. shut-oil' `'valves 49, 50, respectively, and. when. the controller d8 is to sense mud pressure in the standpipe jltl through the line 47, 45, the valve 50 opened. and. the valve 49 is closed, thus shutting off the line Alternatively', when the controller.y is to sense mud pressure 'in the hoke chamber 26 and, consequently ing i3, 'through the .line 47, 28, the valve .lfsed and the valve- 49 .is opened,

As wilt. be noted, the line :28 .is provided with a branch .253V .leading to pair casing pressure gauges 5l., 52., The gauge il be, a 'low pressure reading gauge and.

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the gauge S2 a high pressure reading gauge, bem tween 0-1000 psi, and 0-5000 psi., respectively, with anv automatic block 53 being provided between the two gauges so as to automatically .shift pressure from the gauge 51 to the gauge 52 when the pressure reading of the low pressure gauge 51 is exceeded Similarly, the line 45 is provided with a branch 45 leading to low and high standpipe pressure gauges 54, 55, respectively, with an automatic block 56 therebetween The line branch may be equipped With a suitable pulse dampener 57 which, along with the several gauges and other control equipment such as the regulators 38, 39, et cetera, may be conm veniently mounted on a suitable instrument panel 58, as will be clearly apparent The aforementioned controller 48 .is of. a conventional commercial type which does not require detailed illus tration or explanation except to note that it is capable of being connected to a source ot compressed. air and to provide pneumatic signal :impulses of variable pressure in accordance with variable .mud pressure sensed, for example, through the sensing line Ll7 The mud pressure sensing line ll-7 is connected to the controller t8 as already explainedi In addition, a compressed air supply line 59 is connected to the controller, the line 59 joining with. the aforementioned air line 35 to receive com-Y pressed air from the rig air supply 34a at, say l0() p.,s.iu A. regulator 60 is provided in the line 59 to reduce the pressure to, say 60-80 -p.s.i., followed by a further regula-4 tor 6l which. .reduces the air pressure to approximately 20 p.s.. before reaching the controller t8l The controller has a pneumatic signal impulse outlet line 62 for deliver ing air at a pressure varying, say between zero and 15 psi., such. impulses being passed by the controller into the line 62 from the air supply line 59. The controller is also provided with a ymanual adjustment means 63, which. may be set so as to provide a variation in the transfer of signal impulses from the air line 59 to the impulse outlet line 62 under different. mud pressures sensed through the line 471 The operation of the controller is such that, for example, at a given mud pressure setting of the adjustment means 63, the air signal in the line 62 will have a pressure of, say between .zero and l0 psi when. the mud. pressure is below the set. adjustment, but the air signal will have a pressure of above l0 psic when the set adjustment is exceeded by the mud pressure,

The signal. outlet line- 62 has two branches and 62h leading, respectively', to air operated 'valves 64 and. 65, The valve 64 is a twoway valve positioned in a compressed air line 66 which receives air from the air supply .line 59 at a pressure of 60-8() psi set 'by the regulator 6i?, After passing through the valve 6ft, the air travels through the line 66 to the aforementioned line dll and. thence to the air .motor d2, The air signal line branch 62a communicates with the diaphragm chamber 67 of the valve 64, the rangement being such that when. the signal pressure in the chamber 67 is below 8 the valve 641- open,l but when such pressure rises above l0 psi, the valve 6ft is closedc A needle valve 68 also provided in the line 66 in advance of the valve 64 and .functions as a complete shut olf valve, and the valve 64 is equipped at the outlet side thereof with a choke nipple 64 which. operates as a constant restriction on 'the flow of air. through. the valve 64, regardless of the setting of:l the needle 'valve 68,

The valve .is a. threewa'y' valve provided in. a branch. 66 extending from the compressed air line t6 In. one of .its positions5 the valve 65 communicates the line 66" with a. line 69 leading to the diaphragm. chamber of pneumatic actuator '70 which operates a hydraulic 'valve 7L In its other position., the valve 65 communicates the line 69 to the atmosphere through vent 72 while shutting o. the line 66', so that air pressure .in the diaphragm chamber of the actuator 70 may b ,lie-ved,` signal line branch. 62h communicates with.v the diaphragm ham-t ber 73 of; the valve 65' and. the signal. pressure the chamber below l@ the d5 v diritto through the lines 66' and 69 to the actuator 70 which causes the hydraulic valve 71 to close. On the other hand, when signal pressure in the chamber 73 rises above 8 p.s.i., the valve 65 shuts otf the line 66 and communicates the line 69 with the vent 72, thus permitting air to be exhausted .from the actuator 70 to open the hydraulic Valve 71.

The valve 71 is the by-pass line 33 sump 30, Thus, when the valve 7l is open, by the pump 31 through the line 25 may the sump 30 without actuating the choke possible even when the by-pass line 33 is pressure relief valve 34, Since the valve 71 .is a snap-acting valve, an additional valve 77 is provided leading to the fiuid delivered The operation of the automatic control apparatus may be summarized as follows:

The adjustment means 63 by the controller 48 to the valves 64, 65, thus causing the valve 65 to deliver air to the actuator 70 for closing the valve 7i through the return 'line 74. When the pressure of the slgnal falls below 8 p.s.i., the

against the well.7

lt will be apparent from the foregoing that a desired unt of the back pressure desired.

.it .maybe noted that when the automatic control rather than the manual control is used, the regulator 39 is ad justed `so that there lis no air How the motor 42 and, in the Iabsence of operation of the pump 3L foreign lluid such as water or show a gain and blow-out preventers are close-du The :ormation will continue to produce until the formation pipe must be equal to the sum of the pres sures in the casing, and the sum of either is equal to the bottom hole pressuren While circulating out. the forr1 eign iluid, the `sum of pressures in the drill pipe .must |be equal to or slightly greater than the 4'bottom hole pressure to contain any further invasion of foreign duid. As .long as Icirculation of the mud is not reversed, the drill pipe cannot be contaminated by .foreign iiuids, thus providing means for calculating conditions inthe wellu @Drilling personnel are faced with the problem of pumpn ing the foreign :Fluid to the surfaceo There is a general consensus that the pit level should be held constant, thus not allowing gas expansion in the casing, which is in error. If the foreign iluid were water, this would be cor-v rect, Ibut if the fluid is gas, it must :be allowed 'to expande If not, the gas 'will entering the drill pipe However, this reduce the bottom hole pressure As circulation progresses, changes will occur in the circulating sure of `approximately p.s.i. in excess of the shut-in casing Igauge pressure. The automatic control of the in vention is t-hen cut in to sense the constant drill pipe drill pipe pressure onlyu The combination c-hoke and the pneumatic system to operate the hydraulic flow at any desired setting of the control.

After experimentation it was the internal time lag.,

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure, and various modications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A control for hydrau ic pressure for varying its orifice means and a pneumatic system for operating said hydraulic system, the hydraulic system including a fluid reservoir,

assaisr a pump for delivering liuid under pressure from said reservoir to said hydraulic pressure responsive means, a bypass for returning fluid from said pump to the reservoir, and a normally closed liuid pressure responsive relief valve provided in said by-pass, said pneumatic system including a compressed air supply, a compressed air motor connected to said air supply and drivingly connected to said pump, and a manually adjustable regulator between said air supply and said air motor for controlling the supply compressed air to said motor, whereby to control the hydraulic .fluid pressure delivered by said pump.

2, The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with automatic means for controlling the supply of compressed air to said motor independently of said manually adjustable regulator and in response to variations of mud pressure in the well, said automatic means delivering air to said motor in. response to a lirst mud pressure and stopping liow of air to said motor in response to a second higher mud pressurec 3, The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said automatic means include a manually adjustable mud pressure responsive controller connected to said pneumatic system and adapted to provide pneumatic signal impulses when mud pressure falls below or rises above a predetermined controller setting, and a compressed air supply control valve responsive to said signal impulses and connected to said motor.

f5. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said automatic means also include a second by-pass in said hydraulic system for returning fluid from said pump to said reservoir independently of the lirst mentioned bypass, and a .liuid return control valve provided in said second. by-pass and responsive to signal impulses from said controller.

The apparatus as defined .in claim 4 wherein said compressed air supply control valve and said fluid return control valve are respectively opened and closed and closed and opened when the .mud pressure respectively falls below and. .rises above a predetermined setting of said. controller.

ii The apparatus as defined in claim il wherein said liuid return control valve is air operated, together with air valve means responsive to signal impulses from said controller vtor selectively delivering compressed air to iuirl return contro] valve and venting the same to the atmosphere "7'. he apparatus as defined in Claim 3 wherein sai-d controller includes sensing means responsive to pressure of mud in a casing located in said well,

The apparatus as defined .in claim 3 wherein said controller includes sensing means responsive to pressure of mud in standpipe located in said well,

Ex The apparatus as delined in. claim 3 wherein said controller includes sensing means responsive selectively to .mud pressure in a, casing and, a standpipe located in said vvell.

itl, The apparatus as defined. in claim 3 wherein. said compressed air supply control valve includes a valve por tion in une between the compressed air.v supply and said motor, and an air operated actuator for said valve portion connected to said controller,

lll. An automatic control for a. choke having,- means 1reQ sponsive to hydraulic pressure for varying its orifice in a drilling mud liow line .from a well, said control comprising a hydraulic system for actuating said hydraulic pressure responsive means and a pneumatic system for operating said hydraulic system, the hydraulic system including a lluid reservoir, a pump for delivering fluid under pressure from said reservoir to said hydraulic pressure responsive means, a by-pass for returning fluid from said pump to the reservoir, and a fluid return control valve provided in said by-pass, said pneumatic system including a com pressed air supply, a compressed. air motor driving said pump, a compressed air supply control valve connected to said motor, and a manually adjustable controller resonsive to mud pressure in the well, said controller being adapted to provide pneumatic signal impulses when the mud pressure falls below or rises above a predetermined controller setting, said fluid return control valve and said compressed air supply control valve being responsive to signal impulses from said controller, whereby the com pressed air supply control valve and said uid return con`= trol valve are respectively opened and closed and closed and opened when the mud pressure respectively .falls below and. rises above a predetermined setting of said con-1 troller.

112. The apparatus as deued in claim il wherein said liuid return control valve is air operated, together with air valve means responsive to signal impulses from said controller for selectively delivering compressed air to said liuid return control valve and venting the same to the atmosphere.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim l1 wherein said compressed air supply control valve includes a valve por-` tion in line between the compressed air supply and. motor, and an air loperated actuator for said valve portion connected to said controller,

lid. The apparatus as defined in claim wherein said controller includes sensing means responsive selectively 'to mud pressure in a casing and in a standpipe located in. said welle .References (Cited.

OTHER A'REFERENCES Records, L. l, et al., New Well-Control Unir Speeds Safer Handling of .Blow/outs. .ln @il 8f. Gas lournal, Sept... 10, 1.962, ppn lO6-'11.6. (Copy in Il75-25,}

CHARLES E., OCONNELL, Primary Examiner,

KAN A, CALVERT, Assistent .i-Ix/riftfne/'fu 

